This is my most common plea for help. My soil is my entire world, and its moisture level is crucial. If you let my soil become bone dry for too long, I cannot transport water and nutrients to my leaves. To survive, I must make a sacrifice and jettison my oldest leaves to conserve resources for my core. Conversely, if you are too generous and my roots are constantly sitting in soggy, waterlogged soil, they will begin to rot. Damaged roots cannot absorb water at all, creating a paradox where I am drowning yet dying of thirst. The first sign of this root distress is, again, my leaves turning yellow, becoming soft, and falling off.
As a being of the tropics, I have evolved to bask in bright, dappled sunlight. When you place me in a dim corner, I become desperate. My stems will stretch out weakly, seeking a light source, and my new leaves may be small and pale. But most critically, without sufficient light, I cannot perform photosynthesis efficiently. I cannot produce the energy needed to sustain all of my foliage. To survive in this low-energy state, I must make a calculated decision to drop some of my leaves. It is not a sign of anger, but one of survival, allowing me to direct my limited energy to my most promising parts.
I am a creature of habit and despise sudden change. My leaves are highly sensitive to their surroundings. If you have recently moved me to a new location, repotted me, or even if there is a strong draft from a window or vent, I can go into shock. This shock often manifests as leaf drop. Similarly, extreme temperature fluctuations are very stressful. I prefer a stable, warm environment and will protest loudly (by dropping leaves) if subjected to cold blasts or intense, direct heat from a radiator. Think of me as preferring a consistent, mild climate year-round.
My broad, glossy leaves are adapted to the humid jungles of Southeast Asia. The dry air common in many homes, especially during winter when heating systems run, is very harsh on me. This low humidity causes rapid moisture loss from my leaves through transpiration. If the air is too dry for too long, the leaf edges may turn brown and crispy before the entire leaf eventually gives up and drops. It is a slow, draining process for me. While I can adapt, I truly thrive with higher ambient moisture.
Though I am not a heavy feeder, the nutrients in my potting mix deplete over time. A lack of essential nutrients, particularly nitrogen, can cause my older leaves to yellow and fall as I move those limited nutrients to support new growth. Furthermore, if you have not repotted me in many years, my roots may have completely filled the pot. This means there is little soil left to hold water and nutrients, and my roots become cramped and stressed. This pot-bound condition mimics drought stress, leading to—you guessed it—leaf drop, as I struggle to sustain myself.
